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Asian Pacific Islanders in Higher Education (APAHE) and AAPI Data have partnered to create a playbook for defending AAPI access to higher education.

With various threats facing higher education and our communities, it is time to take meaningful action—one that is informed by the insights of good policy and the realities of public opinion.

This playbook, jointly developed by AAPI Data and Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE), provides a strategic overview of various threats facing higher education in 2025, particularly as they affect Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students and communities. It details executive and budgetary actions that could harm access, funding, and crucial programs. It demonstrates the ways that federal programs and policies have benefited Asian American and Pacific Islander students. The report also highlights AAPI community sentiment on these educational policies, largely demonstrating opposition to cuts and other recent federal government actions. Finally, the playbook outlines a roadmap for effective action, emphasizing advocacy, communication strategies, and the continued role of APAHE and its partners in defending access to higher education.

Key Takeaways

Varying Threats to Higher Education

The U.S. system of higher education, which includes community colleges, universities, professional schools and technical institutes, faces an unprecedented array of challenges in 2025. In addition to recent legislative action through the federal budget process, which we detail in the playbook, many federal actions on higher education have involved the executive branch, ranging from presidential executive orders to decisions by individual agencies like the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, and AmeriCorps.

Key Data about AANAPISIs and AAPI Communities

  • AA&NHPI students are one of the fastest-growing racial groups in U.S. higher education, with enrollment projected to grow 12% in the next four years.
  • Although AANAPISIs represent the second-largest group of MSIs eligible for federal funding, they remain the least funded MSI designation.
  • AAPIs are extremely or very concerned about increases in student loan debt (63%), restrictions to free speech on college campuses (57%), and federal cuts to university research (56%). (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll May 2025)

Remaining Risks to Higher Education

Budgetary actions: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (HR1), passed by the House in May 2025, includes changes disproportionately harming low-income students and their institutions, including cuts to Pell grants, subsidized loans for enrolled students, and financial measures that will harm institutions providing access to low-income students. This bill is now under consideration by the Senate.

In addition, the President’s FY26 Budget, released in late May 2025, proposes significant reductions in federal work-study ($1.24 billion to $250 million) and Pell grant spending (nearly $10 billion reduction to $27.7 billion).

Administration Actions: Additional administrative measures are expected in summer 2025, potentially endangering higher education institutions’ financial viability and missions. Future administrative actions might include:

  • Cuts to overhead rates on federal grants and contracts
  • Additional cuts to research funding 
  • Termination of federal contracts in select colleges and universities
  • Revocation of student visas from China and other countries 
  • Blanket travel bans 
  • Additional attempts to tie federal funding to campus policies on student protest and course curricula

Roadmap for Strategic Action

APAHE and AAPI Data call on organizations and leaders across various
sectors—including in education, industry, government, philanthropy, and
community—to join us in a coordinated, engaging, and impactful effort
to ensure greater access to higher education. In particular, the organizations are committed to:

  • Building stakeholder and community awareness through webinars, AANAPISI regional convenings, and in-person events, including in the leadup to AANAPISI week, September 22-28, 2025
  • Producing social media content that amplifies student and institutional stories— including in compelling video formats—for use before, during, and after AANAPISI week in September 2025
  • Organizing engagement with elected and appointed officials at the federal and state levels
  • Increasing partnerships with civic engagement organizations, student coalitions, and leaders in government and philanthropy